keepbirdieweird

[keepbirdieweird]

round three: popularity contest

Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) - One of the most abundant mammals in North America, this species of bat roosts in massive numbers at a small number of roosts--making it vulnerable to habitat destruction despite its abundance. The sight of these bats leaving their roosts in the evenings is a significant tourist attraction, one that you can go see in at least two locations in Texas (Bracken Cave near San Antonio and the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin). These bats have been the state flying mammal of Texas since 1995. They are believed to have the fastest horizontal speed of any animal, with a top ground speed of over 99 mph (160 km/h). They also fly the highest of any bat species, at altitudes around 3,300 m (10,800 ft).

Image description: a brown bat with a very friendly face looking at the camera as it sits on an outcropping of rock Image source: USFWS/Ann Froschauer, via Wikipedia

Hammer-headed Bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus) - This species of bat, found in a wide range throughout West and Central Africa, is the largest species of bat in continental Africa with a wingspan of 1m (3.3 feet). Possibly the most sexually dimorphic species of bat on earth, the males of this species are twice as heavy as females in weight and possess traits specifically evolved to produce and enhance vocalizations (while females look more like typical fruit bats). The unique appearance of the males is what inspired the species' name.

image description: a bat with a very large and prominent muzzle being held up for the camera by a hand in a leather glove image source: Sarah H. Olson et al, via wikipedia

[keepbirdieweird]

round three: the state bat of california

California leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus californicus) - This species of bat is active year round (i.e. doesn't hibernate) and doesn't migrate (ie nonmigratory). It lives in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of Mexico and the United States. It often roosts in abandoned mines and is particularly sensitive to being disturbed by human activity (especially in the summer months when they are rearing their young). This is one of the reasons why you should not go into abandoned mines (if the inherent hazards to your own personal well-being are not deterrent enough). I personally think that California should have named this species of bat as their state bat (instead of the Pallid Bat that they picked).

image description: a close up of a bat being held in a researcher's hand that gives a great view of the leaf-shaped nose leaf that gives this species its name image source: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) - This species of bat is the state bat of California. They are best known for being able to consume Arizona Bark Scorpions, the most venomous scorpions in North America with a sting that can be fatal to humans. These bats have a mutation that may provide them with immunity to scorpion venom. They primarily eat insects (and scorpions are a particular favorite of theirs), but they have been observed eating cactus fruit and nectar in the spring and summer.

image description: a bat with big ears and a wide open mouth as it is being held by someone wearing white gloves. image source: Connor Long, via wikipedia

[keepbirdieweird]

for anyone curious: a little guy :)

i should've made texas a golden-cheeked warbler in exesverse it'd be too funny

[keepbirdieweird]

tbh the bigger issue with northern mockingbird is that it would start a fight about 'who gets to have it'. northern mockingbird is the state bird of five US states (TX, TN, FL, MS, AR). nomo shift would result in a knock-em-down-drag-em-out fight between texas and florida in a denny's parking lot. either that or a sing-off, also in the denny's parking lot. northern mockingbirds love parking lots.

i should've made texas a golden-cheeked warbler in exesverse it'd be too funny

[keepbirdieweird]

i should've made texas a golden-cheeked warbler in exesverse it'd be too funny

[keepbirdieweird]

Really cool lobster boy full of swag 😯 this is just a vision I had 🦞(I don’t understand lobster anatomy), as for this ol’ Maine design I’m thinking on keeping it with my n my gf’s own characters because I like the design I lot! Maybe he’ll be a new separate character or what Old Man Maine looked like when he was younger 🤔 I’ll figure that out later

Bonus him sketches 😛

[keepbirdieweird]

Gov: if I died, how much would you miss me?

Florida, ready to get Loui to do a summoning circle at a moments notice: it’s cute that you think death can get you out of this relationship

[keepbirdieweird]

yo! you rang?

so

point the first: costume hats/shirts are obviously going to be less expensive than functional pieces of someone's wardrobe. the question you've gotta ask for both that and the shirt is whether you want to incorporate them into daily wear. if yes, go with a nicer option. for a good chunk of the western united states, a good quality cowboy hat qualifies as formal wear and the quality and price match that expectation.

point the second: i assume you're looking for the texas flag button down roper shirts, but also a red(?)(magenta?) button down was used for a good chunk of the early eps.

i didn't really think through how much texas's hat or shirt would be!

and i'm so upset that i won't be able to cosplay him anymore

unless you guys can tell me where i can find those two things for cheap i'll have to think of someone else/nf

no matter how much i'll hate it

[keepbirdieweird]

Wasn’t sure what I was feeling to draw, so here’s just an ol’ Dolly Varden 🐟 I like that name for them. Fish are so cool… look at the way they’re shaped. Is that not fascinating?? Anyways, fishing is real fun, even if all I really do is catch & release 😌 who’s ready for fat bear week this year?

[keepbirdieweird]

the post-inauguration episode is when the name change happens, and I'm personally of the opinion that they're the same character.

DC is used to reference District of Columbia in later episodes as opposed to the government. Gov is also shown wearing a new blue tie. Between the 2020 election and the inauguration, "old DC" slowly takes off the red tie.

there's also Last Administration, which arguably could be considered "old DC" I guess, but is played as a very distinct character, whereas the DC-to-Gov switch has a lot of character continuity.

wait are Gov & DC different people or the same? because I was under impression they're the same guy with different names but I'm seeing some stuff saying they're two different guys?

[keepbirdieweird]

things that kill me a little inside: wttt!austin definitely works in tech. there's absolutely no way he does not. but also tech bros are, by and large, the worst people in this city.

[keepbirdieweird]

okay so like i am still very much in birding mode at the moment but i've been thinking about exesverse again, namely like. how their ability to shape-change impacts their day to day lives

while i do generally follow the 'if it works for the bit' pattern that we've had set for us, i do absolutely adore worldbuilding, so.

i've got a couple questions to myself i've been chewing on that i just want to toss out there. if i'm in the mood to write the series again i'll probably address some of these, but i figured i'd toss em out as a conversation starter for funsies

does a personification's other shapes impact what they eat in one shape? if so, to what degree, and does this change if say, each shape eats something different?

can the interactions between personifications be influenced by their other forms? is this impacted by which form categories match up for the interaction (for ex: is there any instinct bleed-over for say, fox and rabbit? for owl and bat?)

if the above is applicable but the shape categories do not have to match up for the interaction, can this be applied internally as well? (for ex: would Gov in snake-skin be afraid of himself in eagle-skin?)

how much bleed-over is there from animal behavior in general when in human form?

[keepbirdieweird]

ball pythons truly are one of the cutest things in the world

Everyone could use a little bit of noodle snake things 🐍 I like to imagine Texas is a fan of them! They’re like cat puppy things but not that at all so that’s how you know they’re good 👍 maybe Texas would give this guy a lil mini cowboy hat

[keepbirdieweird]

i'm not dead it's just migration season ;)

[keepbirdieweird]

yes… more space critter Alaska… unfortunately I have taken a big liking towards this thang, I do have other fantasy ideas for the other states tho! And I promise I’ll get back to the regular Table stuff! For now more Alaska 🐶 I’ll explain my thoughts behind his design too! Warning tho, it’s a lot of words down there

Basically, the whole reason he’s space-based is because of his flag, being the only one that’s a constellation and nothing more visually (albeit symbolism and a story behind it), as well as two of his state nicknames; land of the midnight sun and land of the midday moon!

He’s also heavily inspired off of Saturn, particularly because of his Birthday (Jan 3rd) & capricorns being presented with Saturn (not I don’t believe in astrology or anything, I just think the references are cool); tho I dunno how to really incorporate the rings into his design 🤔

he’s also inspired off of cosmic/nebula dust, because Alaska’s flag and the stars n all, nebulas are where stars are born! It’s mostly his… mane, thing?? That’s the dust, that’s why he’s got stars up in there!

The tail is supposed to be referenced to auroras, because well it’s Alaska, and also because Saturn has auroras too! It’s why it’s long and also drapey

He’s actually also big inspired off of birds too! Thanks to @keepbirdieweird I used nightjars for inspiration specially for his head shape :)

His “ears”, the tufts that look like ears aren’t ears! They’re akin to bird ear-tufts, so they don’t move nor really contribute to Alaska’s hearing or showing off emotions or signals

Other bird things is that of his limbs, specially his legs. And also he’s actually more so feathery than fur fluffy I’d say? So he doesn’t really have a mane, I think it’d be technically referred to as a neck ruff? I’m not sure!

His coloring I also just decided recently could be inspired off of Saturn’s colors maybe (or even on of it’s moons or their rings) 🤔

He’s also one of the more,, animalistic or heavily animal based designs even in a humanoid form, because well it’s Alaska. I just think he likes his animal attributes a lot

Because Saturn and Jupiter inspirations, gas giants and all, Alaska is actually much more able to be bigger in the fantasy au and still be comfortable! Lots of mass indeed, but not dense due to gas giant things, so he floats around much of the time

Alaska does not have a skeleton. Think like the cores of Saturn and Jupiter, that’s basically what goes on in him! And thanks to nuclear fusion, he can control his temps and therefore can get real hot and bright

His markings are inspired off of Alaska malamutes (particularly his face) because again: Alaska

So basically: Alaska is like a sentient cosmic cloud thing and we love him in this house

[keepbirdieweird]

ur exesverse series is to die for, sincerely, ao3 user howwegothere (me)!!

aaaaaa can't believe i forgot to actually answer this (i had a post drafted but i lost it D: )

thank you so much!!! i'm really glad exesverse vibes with people so much, and thank you for leaving a comment! :D

it's definitely the kind of series i can't really write unless i'm in a specific mood (this mood, of course, is beating up on austin) but i really loved it conceptually from the start. i am always holding it in my hand, gently, like the fragile bones of a nestling bird.

[keepbirdieweird]

oh i actually have some additions to this in tags :D

hi y'all, it's birdie, conservation management is part of my degree plan-

A sketch of Gov in the new episode 🐶! I always kinda imagined Gov to look pretty much how he is portrayed in the episodes tbh so I never bother to make him that much of a separate design 🤔 BUT also this is an excuse to educate y'all on federal land. It will be under the cut for those who wanna learn.

What does Federal Land mean for a state?

Well, this is something I think a lot of folks in here (the fandom) needs to know, because I just see people jump to conclude Gov is horrible towards Nevada. That is not the case.

This is just the basics, but federal land literally just conserves, manages, and protects natural resources and wildlife. For example, national parks are federal lands. You'd notice this because of how western states tend to have more wildlife than the east. And how federal land is mostly administered by agencies such as the BLM, FWS, NPS, and USFS, which all are catered towards handling wildlife and resources.

Federal land also tends to consist of land that states cannot easily manage or utilize, which for Nevada it's pretty easy to notice, as most of Nevada is semi-arid and desert, meanwhile land more available to use, like by rivers and other water sources are not usually federal land.

Historically, up until 1976, you could easily just claim a homestead of hundreds of acres! The Federal Government just ended up taking what nobody else really wanted because they couldn't live there anyways. It's why Nevada has so much Fed Land, and now that land is managed by agencies; and in Nevada's case, most of it is under the Bureau of Land Management. This is why Nevada's population only resides in no more than 20% of the land. Because they bought it as they could use it and live in it, even then they don't use much of the full 20% that is accessible to them.

And it's not as if federal land is completely off-hands, people hunt, hike, camp and fish in federal land all the time! Take Alaska for example, who's 60%+ federal land, in terms of Alaska's size that's a LOT of land, yet Alaska is one of or the best state when it comes to fishing and hunting either way, and Alaska's natural beauty remains largely untouched and unbothered (at least directly).

There is also the fact that if a crime is committed on federal land, it instantly becomes punishable to a higher degree than it would on state grounds, as it becomes of federal interest.

So no, Nevada being 80% federal land isn't bad for him. It's just Gov taking up and protecting what Nevada can't really utilize or manage easily.